Every good leader wants to bring out the best in her people. For me that means constantly learning and growing in order to help my team to do the same. This book provides great insight into human nature and what inspires us to do our best.

Every good leader wants to bring out the best in her people. For me that means constantly learning and growing in order to help my team to do the same. This book provides great insight into human nature and what inspires us to do our best. In addition, it stretches the reader to reconsider some widely accepted means for standardizing service. As a huge proponent of scripting, I found myself re-considering the rigidity with which this tool is sometimes used. The authors suggest that as leaders we need to set the objectives for the outcome and leave the detail of how to execute and achieve those objectives up to the employee.

We all want loyal customers right? But what does it
take to create and sustain an environment that fosters
loyalty? Authors Chip Ball and John Patterson can tell
you.

Not a Good Storyteller? Help is Here.

If you have ever felt like you’ve hit a plateau in your career, this book might just shed light on what’s holding you back. It’s you and your nasty habits. No, this isn’t a commentary on lifestyle, it’s a quick look at some of the interpersonal habits that we develop over years.

Practical wisdom describes the essence of this book. The author, CEO of United Foods, Dan J. Sanders shares the leadership principles that have elevated his company to great success. In reading this book, I can see that we share many of the same philosophies about what it takes to inspire and lead people toward a common vision. This book isn’t a how-to book of leadership but rather one that encourages leaders to craft a compelling mission and vision and never waver from the top priorities. It urges leaders to understand the value of the workforce and the importance of maximizing human potential at all levels.

Sanders makes a strong case for building a culture-driven, people centered organization. He feels that leaders have historically spent far too much time focusing on fiscal resources and not enough time on human resources. Coming from the grocery industry, Sanders knows the value of great service. He states, “No loyalty exists when the nature of the relationship between the buyer and the seller is based on price and nothing more.” He knows that in a culture-driven, people-centered organization, leaders are energized and equipped to motivate followers to see beyond the present. He knows that leaders should create energy and not deplete it particularly in tough times.

Sanders shares stories from his personal and professional life that make the fundamentals of leadership come alive. This book is a fast read and one that I will keep handy for its snippets of practical wisdom.

In her latest book, Great Personal Leadership - No-nonsense Solutions with Gratifying Results (2008, AHA Press), Wendy Leebov gives practical advice for leaders that will help them stay the course through simple actions.

Kristin Baird's new book, Raising the Bar on Service Excellence - The Health Care Leader's Guide to Putting Passion Into Practice, is here!

Throughout history, the health care industry
has been notorious for promoting good
clinicians to management and sometimes
senior leadership positions.

Chip Heath and Dan Heath have unraveled one of the mysteries of memorable communication tactics. The two authors discuss the most common characteristics of everything from urban legends to classic ad campaigns. They coined the term “stickiness” as understandable, memorable and effective in changing thought or behavior.

Service is the best form of marketing, and no other organization proves that better than Mayo Clinic.

In their book, Management Lessons from Mayo Clinic, authors Leonard Berry and Kent Seltman demonstrate how the Mayo brand was built from the ground floor up with its foundation anchored firmly in mission and values.

This book is a must read for health care leaders. It reminds us all that we have a responsibility to keep the patient first.

I’m a Mayo fan, not because of what I read, but because of my own personal experiences. This book shed light on why I am able to expect a consistently positive patient experience with every encounter I’ve had there. While many of us talk mission, Mayo lives it.

Kristin Baird's new book, Raising the Bar on Service Excellence - The Health Care Leader's Guide to Putting Passion Into Practice, continues to receive rave reviews.

Every so often I run across a book that resonates so true that I feel as though it were written just for me. I had that feeling within the first two pages of the book, “The Art of Achievement: Mastering the 7 C’s of Success in Business and Life” by Tom Morris.